Melena (Blood in Stool) in Dogs

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Melena (Blood in Stool) in Dogs

By: Dr. Bari Spielman

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Section: Veterinary Care In-depth

Diagnosis In-depth

Obtaining a complete medical history, and performing a thorough physical examination are necessary in order to create an appropriate diagnostic plan for the patient with melena. An extensive battery of tests is often required to identify or isolate the specific cause, and such tests may include:

A complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate for the presence of infection, inflammation and anemia associated with some diseases that cause melena

A biochemical profile to rule out metabolic causes of melena, and to evaluate electrolyte and protein levels

A urinalysis to evaluate the kidneys, the hydration status of the patient, and the presence of blood in the urine

Fecal tests for parasites and fecal culture for bacteria

A coagulation profile and platelet count to assess blood clotting

Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) to evaluate th

e abdominal organs and possibly identify foreign material or a tumor

Chest radiographs to evaluate for the presence of fluid (blood) or metastasis (spread of tumor) in the lungs

Your veterinarian may recommend additional tests to ensure optimal medical care. These are selected on a case-by-case basis:

Serologic tests for certain infectious diseases that may cause melena

An ACTH stimulation test to rule out hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease)

Bile acids tests if liver disease was identified on the biochemistry test

A blood lead assay if there has been exposure to lead, or if there is material that looks like lead visible on abdominal x-rays

Abdominal ultrasonography to evaluate the size, shape and texture of abdominal organs and help assess the presence of tumors and foreign bodies

An upper gastrointestinal (GI) barium (dye) series of x-rays, especially when the above tests fail to reveal the cause of melena

Upper GI endoscopy, which involves the insertion of a flexible viewing scope into the stomach and upper small intestines

Exploratory surgery of the abdomen for undiagnosed disease or cases requiring corrective surgery

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1Hematochezia (Blood in Stool) in Dogs
Hematochezia is the presence of bright red blood in the feces. Bright red blood is different that black tarry feces, which is usually associated with digested blood. Anytime blood is noticed in the feces,...
Read More
2Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs
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Read More
3Gastrointestinal Ulcerations in Dogs
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Read More
4Bruising and Bleeding in Dogs
Bruising and bleeding are disorders of primary hemostasis – or clotting – that result in bleeding into the skin or mucous membranes to a degree out of proportion to the trauma. The impact may be mild...
Read More
5Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE)
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is a disease syndrome seen in dogs, characterized by the acute (sudden) onset of bloody diarrhea, usually explosive, accompanied by high packed cell volumes (red blood...
Read More

Melena (Blood in Stool) in Dogs

Melena (Blood in Stool) in Dogs

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